November 12, 2015
Peter Solari Follow @4PeteSakeNY
It's becoming all too familiar in East Rutherford. Another New York Giant lost his season due to injury Thursday, as coach Tom Coughlin announced that offensive tackle Will Beatty will not be activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list due to a shoulder injury that will require surgery. Beatty has been inactive all season because of a pectoral injury suffered in May. His latest ailment is unrelated to that injury. The Giants had until Thursday to activate the seven year pro off the PUP list, or leave him there for the remainder of the season. Beatty has been trying to play through the pain, but Coughlin said the injury is, "not gonna be something that will allow him to be the player he can be."
And just like that, another one bites the dust.
The latest setback shouldn't be considered a backbreaker for Big Blue. Had Beatty been activated, someone else would have been removed from their already depleted roster, to make room for him. That very-well could have cost the team in the long run. Furthermore, the Giants offensive line, though far from perfect, isn't the team's biggest concern right now. They are a lot thinner in other spots, and the o-line is vastly improved from the last few seasons. General Manager Jerry Reese has made rebuilding a focal point of recent drafts, using high picks the past three years to upgrade it. With guard Justin Pugh (drafted: 1st round, 2013), center Weston Richburg (drafted: 2nd round, 2014), and Ereck Flowers (drafted: 1st round, 2015), Reese has built a nice nucleus, and all three of those players' are developing into good, young football players. Reese also added guard Geoff Schwartz via free agency last year. Beatty, a 2nd round pick in 2009, was supposed to be the fifth piece of that puzzle, but due to his injury, Flowers, the rookie has been filling in at left tackle and Marshall Newhouse, who was signed as a backup, moved into the starting right tackle slot.
Flowers has been impressive for the Giants. Of course there have been some growing pains, and that should be expected, but Flowers has still been better, and more consistent, than the struggling Beatty was at any point last season. Had Beatty been activated, he likely would have moved back into the left tackle position, moving Flowers over to right tackle, allowing him to develop without having to square off with the NFL's best pass rushers week after week. That may not have been the best case scenario for this, as Flowers has shown more ability to protect Eli Manning's blind side, than Beatty ever has.
Newhouse has struggled mightily at right tackle, and the Giants would love to replace him, but they could be worse. Play from the entire offensive line has improved from last season, and even with his struggles, Newhouse has been a part of that. He also has a ton of experience in the NFL. He was a member of the Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl championship team in 2010. In 2011, he started 13 games for the 15-1 Packers, and started all 16 games for them in 2012. Considering what we've seen from the entirety of their careers, it's not a given that Beatty would be an upgrade over Newhouse, even at right tackle. Ultimately, it's an area the team will, once again, have to focus on in the draft. With their recent track record, that doesn't sound like such a bad thing, does it?
Even though news of Beatty's season-ending injury won't make or break the Giants' season, there is still plenty of cause for concern surrounding Big Blue. For example, can this team go a week without losing a player to injury? They currently have 11 players on injured reserve, with only one of them designated to return. Beatty is on the PUP list, and the team has another 6-8 players who likely won't suit up this Sunday when they take on an undefeated New England Patriots team. Several of those players have already missed significant time. How long can this team expect to survive at this rate?
Right now, you have to give the Giants credit. They have a winning record and are in first place. Most people didn't expect that when the team was relatively healthy, so you'll certainly take it from Dr. Frankenstein's version of the roster. But you can't expect them to maintain this. They've got a tough schedule ahead, and won't even be able to put 11 players on the field if the injuries keep piling up.
Is there any type of solution to this problem? Football is a violent gam and all, but injuries haven't haunted teams like they have the Giants. It's not as if this is something new. It's the same story with this team every season. Why that is, I can't exactly tell you, but seeing as 31 other teams don't have this problem, I've got to believe there's something to it.